How dare you!

How dare you! Matthew 7:1-6

Remember how this whole thing is driven by context, again, Matthew 5:20 “ For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.” then Jesus says here in Matthew 7:1 “ “Judge not, that you be not judged.” - the most popular verse known by what seems like everyone. Everyone knows that verse and uses it against anyone that would judge them for their actions, but only if they are a christian and only if you disagree with their ideology. They are usually ok with slight correction from a friend who agrees with them generally.

I have also had family members and friends get offended even when pointing out behavior (not intent mind you, but sin) and been told, how dare you judge me! Some have even yelled, (usually in King Jimmy) judge not lest ye be judged!

So lets take a little time today and examine the text not just stop at the first verse.

Matthew 7:1–6 “ “Judge not, that you be not judged. 2 For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. 3 And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? 4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye? 5 Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. 6 “Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces.”

Lets just roll through the verses together now.

Matthew 7:1 “ “Judge not, that you be not judged.”

What judgement is He speaking of here? the word in greek is “krinete”. And it means, to cast or pass judgement, says Bp. Pearce, “a malefactor is brought before a judge, the judge does three things: 1. he tries or judges him; 2. he then gives his judgment or sentence; and, 3. he puts the law in execution, and punishes him. Hence κρινω, at different times, signifies each of these things; and the sense of the word is to be determined by the context.

The pharisees, scribes, sadducees, and council etc would often judge peoples actions even banning them from fellowship with the synagogue and temple if they didn't follow the rules.

if you didn't pray in the right way, fast their way, give enough, follow all the traditions, it could cost you greatly. pick up your picnic blanket you take a chance on getting hit for helping someone with a broken leg get home during sabbath (will see later in the message)! Or giving them a band-aid, etc.

whether being found guilty, being given a sentence because of it, or delivering the punishment, Jesus was a major cause of this judgement with the pharisees banning people from worship for worshipping the messiah!

But remember, we cant stop here at v1. Context drives it all for us.

Matthew 7:2 “ For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.”

The hypocrite, the pretender, judges only others = and they often use self-deprecation to justify a self-righteous attitude.

the measure is the standard. and its often an arbitrary sliding scale that changes depending on the mood of the judge, the likability of the person that they are “judging” and the measure of their pride.

Measured back to you…

This is a fellowship issue, not salvation. Lets make that clear. Now it might interfere for the judgmental person to now confess or repent of their own sin because they have placed themselves in the position of judge. We hold everyone to a standard we so often dont meet ourselves. And I would note, if you were meeting the standard, you would be thinking differently in “how” you judge.

We need to examine how we walk before judging the walk of other. The bible often refers to this as fruit. It displays whats in our heart - comes out and our life decisions the way we speak our hearts are put on display Matthew 12:33 “ “Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or else make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for a tree is known by its fruit.”

Matthew 7:3–4 “ And why do you look at the speck (splinter) in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? 4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye?”

In other words, they see their own sins or failings as more personal issues rather than sin but see in others the same sin as being much more important than their own.

Jesus said in Luke 18:9–14 “ Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: 10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’ 13 And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’ 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.””

Jesus makes that plain when he proclaims:

Matthew 7:5 “ Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”

Hypocrite: greek:

Now, jesus often directly dealt with hypocrites, turn to Luke 13:10–17 “ Now He was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath. 11 And behold, there was a woman who had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bent over and could in no way raise herself up. 12 But when Jesus saw her, He called her to Him and said to her, “Woman, you are loosed from your infirmity.” 13 And He laid His hands on her, and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God. 14 But the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath; and he said to the crowd, “There are six days on which men ought to work; therefore come and be healed on them, and not on the Sabbath day.” 15 The Lord then answered him and said, “Hypocrite! Does not each one of you on the Sabbath loose his ox or donkey from the stall, and lead it away to water it? 16 So ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound—think of it—for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath?” 17 And when He said these things, all His adversaries were put to shame; and all the multitude rejoiced for all the glorious things that were done by Him.” turn gal 6

How do we do this? How do i remove the speck after chunking the plank? (turn) Galatians 6:1–5 “ Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. 2 Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. 3 For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. 4 But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. 5 For each one shall bear his own load.”

Matthew 7:6 “ “Do not give what is holy to the dogs (unholy people); nor cast your pearls (Gods wisdom) before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces.”

Ever seen a boar or dog attack a person? Pretty scary. Here it almost seems like the metaphor says this judgement and correction only applies to fellow believers. To the jews wild dogs and pigs of any kind were forbidden, dogs often eat or even roll around on dead things, and pigs, well, they literaly had a command somewhere ;)

Paul & Peter also used dogs/pigs as metaphor for what not to do Philippians 3:2 “ Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the mutilation!” 2 Peter 2:22 “ But it has happened to them according to the true proverb: “A dog returns to his own vomit,” and, “a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire.””

We need to judge ourselves, when we should share, and be gentle in our judging to see if a person can receive it, trying to have a deep connection with bearing each others burdens in opposition with those who have no faith - Hebrews 11:6 “ But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” We might not see results with the things that Christ, the scriptures give us or experience (ever) the things of God if we don’t have faith in Him.

Romans 12:3 “ For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.” this is only for believers, we must not think that this is something that can just be done in the flesh.

We judge, with righteous judgement, John 7:24 “ Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.”” Which means we know whats happening before making any actual judgement, with love and patience.

We have to judge, so that we know how we might please Him and edify one another - 1 John 3:7 “ Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous.”

Remember, we need to earnestly examine ourselves before helping your brother or sister, someone telling you to not judge them is them judging you.

This command doesnt mean don’t share the Gospel. Its being careful to examine yourself and others in the right and loving way.

So be careful to properly apply this scripture and reach out to those with a desire to please Him, to love those who need to hear Psalm 37:30 “ The mouth of the righteous speaks wisdom, And his tongue talks of justice.” Jesus eventually will judge us all - Psalm 96:13 “ For He is coming, for He is coming to judge the earth. He shall judge the world with righteousness, And the peoples with His truth.” Acts 17:30–31 “ Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, 31 because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead.””